Daisetsuzan National Park (Japan)

Advantages: Pristine scenery, stunningly clear air,
Disadvantages: None really

...New Zealand's highest mountain is a set of three icy peaks, the highest being 3754m above sea level, dominant in the tussocky McKenzie Country in the South Island. Mount Cook is the central point of the Aoraki Mount Cook National Park and it's also prominent in the Southern Alps, grand to view when you drive along the Tekapo to Twizel long straight roads, or alongside the hydro canal which takes water to the Upper Waitaki district network of lakes, canals, rivers and hydro dams. Whether you fly over this natural wonderland in fixed wing or helicopter aircraft, or view it from a tour bus window, your own vehicle or a hired automobile you will never drive the length of the huge valley without stopping in awe and wonder. You leave the main highway near Pukaki Dam, it is clearly signposted and once you drive alongside Lake... Read review

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Advantages: Stunning scenery
Disadvantages: Avoid winter months, beware of altitude sickness

...Colorado has two main National Parks: Mesa Verde and Rocky Mountains National Park. Mesa Verde National Park is located in south west Colorado and people go there to view the historic ruins of the dwellings of the Ancestral Puebloans or Anasazi built more than 800 years ago, rather than for hiking, biking etc. The park houses the greatest concentration of Indian ruins in North America and is truly fascinating. The dwellings are set in cliff faces and mesa tops and there are several concentrations of dwellings within the park including Wetherill Mesa and Chapin Mesa. Cliff Palace is the largest ruin with several hundred rooms, including ceremonial “kiva” chambers. In the park there are several camp grounds and lodges along with the Chapin Mesa museum and panoramic viewpoints. The museum explains the lifestyle of the Anasazi... Read review

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Advantages: other world scenery, freedom to explore, excellent wildlife in compact area
Disadvantages: not too many places to stay - book early

...The Matbobo (or Matopos) Hills National Park is probably my favourite area of Zimbabwe. This area of the country has landscapes like nowhere else in the world, offers excellent wildlife viewing and yet it is possible to explore most areas in your own vehicle or on foot. The area is often overlooked with attention drawn to Victoria Falls and Hwange National Park. If you are visiting Zimbabwe then make sure to include Matobo on your itinerary. The land here is covered with an extraordinary collection of huge bare granite hills with gravity-defying boulders scattered all over the countryside creating a quite unique and distinctly mysterious landscape. The most spectacular areas are within the Matobo Hills National Park. The local Matabele people call it Malindidzimu (the place of ancestor spirits). The park is famous for its outstanding... Read review

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